Detecting network interfaces capable of channel bonding
AssigneeComputer Associates Think, Inc.
InventorGlenn W. Myers
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method discovers whether network interfaces associated with a device are capable of being channel bonded. In particular, each network interface associated with a device broadcasts a message on a network that other network interfaces can identify as having originated on the sending network interface. If a second network interface associated with the device receives a message and identifies the message as having originated on a first network interface associated with the same device, the first and second network interfaces can be channel bonded.
Claims29
A method comprising:
- broadcasting a message formatted as an Address Resolution Protocol (“ARP”) packet with a first network interface associated with a device onto a network coupled to the first network interface, wherein the message is identifiable as having been sent by the first network interface, wherein a target protocol address field and a sender protocol address field of the ARP packet are zero, and wherein a sender hardware address field of the ARP packet is a hardware address of the first network interface;
- listening to a network coupled to a second network interface associated with the device for the message identifiable as having been sent by the first network interface;
- and
- marking the first network interface and the second network interface as capable of being channel bonded when the second network interface receives the message identifiable as having been sent by the first network interface.
A system comprising:
- a network capable of transmitting packets to network interfaces coupled to the network;
- a first network interface that broadcasts a message on the network, wherein the message is identifiable as having been sent by the first network interface, wherein the first network interface formats the message as an Address Resolution Protocol (“ARP”) packet, wherein a target protocol address field and a sender protocol address field of the ARP-formatted packet are zero, and wherein a sender hardware address field of the ARP-formatted packet is a hardware address of the first network interface;
- and
- a second network interface that listens to the network for the message identifiable as having been sent by the first network interface;
- and
- a network detection module that marks the first network interface and the second network interface as capable of being channel bonded when the second network interface receives the message identifiable as having been sent by the first network interface and the first network interface and the second network interface are associated with a single device.
A computer-readable medium comprising instructions for causing a processor to:
- broadcast a message formatted as an Address Resolution Protocol (“ARP”) packet with a first network interface associated with a device onto a network coupled to the network interface, wherein the message is identifiable as having been sent by the first network interface, wherein a target protocol address field and a sender protocol address field of the ARP packet are zero, and wherein a sender hardware address field of the ARP packet is a hardware address of the first network interface;
- listen to a network with a second network interface associated with the device for the message identifiable as having been sent by the first network interface;
- and
- mark the first network interface and the second network interface as capable of being channel bonded when the second network interface receives the message identifiable as having been sent by the first network interface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.